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Yankees to Shift Focus to This Rising Star After Guerrero Jr. Taken Off Market

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 11:57 AM ET

Despite his flirting with the New York Yankees, we know now, who won’t be the first baseman of the future in the Bronx.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. closed the door on that possibility Sunday night, when he reportedly agreed to a 14-year, $500 million extension to stay with the Blue Jays.

The Yankees had long been rumored to be interested if Guerrero ever hit free agency. The son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero had even softened his tone on the Yankees. He had previously said he would never play for the Yankees, even if he was dead, but in recent months, as he neared potential free agency, he said he was open to a future in the Bronx.

When the Yankes signed Paul Goldschmidt to just a one-year deal this past offseason, it fueled those rumors. He was a stopgap. Not a long-term answer, leaving them free to sign Guerrero.

So where do the Yankees go now?

It could be Munetaka Murakami, who may have been their first choice all along.

The Yankees have quietly—and not so quietly—been circling the Japanese slugger, who’s expected to be posted ahead of the 2026 season. YES Network broadcaster Michael Kay suggested last winter that the team shaped parts of its offseason with Murakami in mind. He’s a left-handed power hitter with infield versatility, including first base experience.

Murakami set the Nippon Professional Baseball single-season home run record by a Japanese-born player in 2022, launching 56 bombs at age 22. He has both youth and elite production on his side. And if the Yankees want a face-of-the-lineup lefty to follow Aaron Judge in the coming years, Murakami fits.

After that, the options are much thinner for the Yankees.

Goldschmidt will hold the spot in 2025 unless age catches up faster than expected. Beyond that, next winter’s first base market offers a mix of short-term fixes and bounce-back bets.

Pete Alonso has an opt-out in his two-year deal with the New York Mets and could be back on the market. Josh Naylor, Rhys Hoskins (mutual option), Carlos Santana, Justin Turner, Josh Bell, LaMonte Wade Jr., Donovan Solano, Ty France, and Connor Joe are the other first basemen expected to be free agents.

The Yankees were planning for something to set up first base for the future. They now know it won't be Guerrero, so they have a few months to try and evaluate why they haven't landed a Japanese star since Masahiro Tanaka in 2014 and figure out how to recruit Murakami.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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